Top Tuesday shows pick up steam

'Voice,' 'NCIS,' 'Dancing,' 'New Girl' all see ratings rise

It’s been a good start to the post-Thanksgiving week for the broadcast networks, as Tuesday followed Monday as days when the top shows — NBC’s “The Voice,” CBS’ “NCIS” and ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” — exhibited nice ratings gains.

ABC earned a narrow victory in 18-49 while CBS edged ahead in adults 25-54 and total viewers, according to Nielsen preliminary estimates.

The Alphabet started the night well above average with holiday specials “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2.4 rating/7 share in adults 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall) and “Shrek the Halls” (2.5/7 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall) and then led the 9-11 p.m. block in key categories with the season finale of “Dancing With the Stars” (3.0/8 in 18-49, 16.6 million viewers overall).

Though this fall’s All-Stars edition of “Dancing” was the show’s lowest-rated to date and the finale was off about 25% from a year ago, Tuesday’s show repped a ratings high for the season — up 50% in 18-49 from last week’s hourlong results show.

At CBS, “NCIS” (3.5/10 in 18-49, 19.6 million viewers overall) shot up 17% week to week for a two-month high and won its timeslot in adults 25-54 (5.1/12) and total viewers, ruling as the night’s top show in both categories and as Tuesday’s No. 1 scripted program in 18-49. “NCIS: Los Angeles” was then up a bit at 9 o’clock (2.9/7 in 18-49, 14.3 million viewers overall), tying with ABC’s “Dancing” in demos, and “Vegas” dropped from last week at 10 (1.6/4 in 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall).

NBC had a good night too as “The Voice” (3.8/10 in 18-49, 11.4 million viewers overall) was the top draw in 18-49, rising 12% week to week and giving a lift to 9 o’clock-hour comedies “Go On” (2.5/6 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) and “The New Normal” (1.7/4 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall). And at 10, “Parenthood” (1.8/5 in 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall) edged up to move back ahead of CBS’ “Vegas.”

The middle-hour Tuesday comedies on NBC and Fox likely benefited from the absence of laffers on ABC, with “Go On” posting its best score since Oct. 9 (the last week it didn’t face the Alphabet’s “Happy Endings”).

At CW, “Hart of Dixie” (0.5/1 in 18-49, 1.3 million viewers overall) held steady while “Emily Owens, M.D.” dropped slightly (0.3/1 in 18-49, 1.0 million viewers overall) and was likely hurt some by ABC’s “Dancing” finale.